Reusse: Sano has some growing up to do

[bird]

 

You don't see the difference between discussing an actual on field component of the game (which we have seen in Spring Training, btw) and discussing whether he wants to be great because he attended an autograph signing and went home to the Dominican for 2 weeks?

 

 

I think we're taking a big detour from the point here. Reusse's been in Fort Myers for weeks this spring. He's hearing comments daily about a future superstar who everyone in baseball is watching. He's hearing scouts say things, like that he looks pretty unpolished out in RF, that he looks like he could be in better shape, that it looks like he could benefit from seeing a few thousand more fungoes. He sees Sano come to camp weighing more, not less, than last year. He sees a whole bunch of players voluntarily working out early every day. Most of these players, Arcia for example, aren't dealing with the extra challenge of learning the nuances of a new position. He sees Sano come and go. He hears from the field staff that they'd like, and probably expect, more effort and time from Sano.

 

So, according to some, Reusse is a hack, the article is garbage, and he's being unfair and petty.  I wonder if a lot of this isn't just backlash from people who are as disdainful of Reusse as Reusse is towards us, who he seems to think of as a bunch of hyper-judgmental know-it-alls.

 

I don't have to like Reusse to accept his observations at face value and accept his conclusions as somewhat meritorious.

 

I don't think Reusse was seriously questioning what Sano did with his time away. It was about whether Sano was expected to be at camp putting in the work.

 

 

[KGB]

 

I rip them for that nonsense! And it's Sano's fault he is being moved? Hell, his handling of that is a credit to him. He lost 7 pounds and went out to a new position with no complaints and for that he gets a hit piece?

Reusse didn't move him to the outfield, he just wrote a column about his drive to be great.  He reported to camp heavier than last year, so the weight he lost was weight he put on over the last year.  Not complaining isn't the same as being committed to being at your best.  His commitment could be the difference from being a Twins HOFer and an baseball HOFer.  I guess I just don't see this as a hit piece.

[alarp33]

 

Reusse didn't move him to the outfield, he just wrote a column about his drive to be great.  He reported to camp heavier than last year, so the weight he lost was weight he put on over the last year.  Not complaining isn't the same as being committed to being at your best.  His commitment could be the difference from being a Twins HOFer and an baseball HOFer.  I guess I just don't see this as a hit piece.

 

You kind of just summed up every persons thoughts who thought this column was a hack job.  How in the heck does Reusse know Sano's drive to be great.  Because he showed up to a camp where he had a .500 OBP weighing a few more pounds than he expected?  Pathetic jump to conclusion and insulting insinuation 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

In what world would you expect Reusse to claim/admit that he wrote the article 'with encouragement from the Twins'?

I wouldn't expect it.  But if he had encouragement from the Twins, I would expect him to remain silent on that point, which he didn't.

 

 

Also, if the presentation of the 'flimsy' facts was incorrect, wouldn't you expect that the Twins or Sano himself might object? If that objection has been made, I have missed it.

 

If I was Sano, I wouldn't dignify the accusation with a response.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Again, I do not think this article was about fitness, or lack thereof. It was about Sano's commitment to greatness... is he going to be Kirby Puckett or Kent Hrbek? They were both great ball players, good team mates, and great for the organization.

Then why don't you go ahead and tell us about Puckett's and Hrbek's offseason commitment to greatness? I'll give you a hint: start at zero and don't add to it. Your defense of Ruesse and everyone else's defense of him is baffling to me.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Again, I do not think this article was about fitness, or lack thereof. It was about Sano's commitment to greatness... is he going to be Kirby Puckett or Kent Hrbek? They were both great ball players, good team mates, and great for the organization. Only one had the corner locker and drove the bus to two WS victories (figuratively, anyway).

That can all be written without the specific accusation of promise-breaking.  Have you read the posts here?  That Sano breaks his word, etc.?  Completely unnecessary to write the article you claim he wanted to write.

 

Imagine if Kent Hrbek had been moved to the outfield over the winter of 1982-1983, somehow I doubt Reusse would have augmented this article with a flimsy accusation about missing a few optional offseason workouts... especially if Hrbek had, like Sano, fully accepted the move, already put in the work to reach MLB as a third baseman, while also putting in the work to successfully recover from elbow surgery.  And been willing to play winter ball throughout.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I think we're taking a big detour from the point here. Reusse's been in Fort Myers for weeks this spring. He's hearing comments daily about a future superstar who everyone in baseball is watching. He's hearing scouts say things, like that he looks pretty unpolished out in RF, that he looks like he could be in better shape, that it looks like he could benefit from seeing a few thousand more fungoes. He sees Sano come to camp weighing more, not less, than last year. He sees a whole bunch of players voluntarily working out early every day. Most of these players, Arcia for example, aren't dealing with the extra challenge of learning the nuances of a new position. He sees Sano come and go. He hears from the field staff that they'd like, and probably expect, more effort and time from Sano.

 

So, according to some, Reusse is a hack, the article is garbage, and he's being unfair and petty.  I wonder if a lot of this isn't just backlash from people who are as disdainful of Reusse as Reusse is towards us, who he seems to think of as a bunch of hyper-judgmental know-it-alls.

 

I don't have to like Reusse to accept his observations at face value and accept his conclusions as somewhat meritorious.

I don't think Reusse was seriously questioning what Sano did with his time away. It was about whether Sano was expected to be at camp putting in the work.

I actually like Reusse, and I don't really mind most of the content of this column, even if I disagree with it.  But that specific accusation felt out of line, given its timing and weak evidence.

[alarp33]

 

I think we're taking a big detour from the point here. Reusse's been in Fort Myers for weeks this spring. He's hearing comments daily about a future superstar who everyone in baseball is watching. He's hearing scouts say things, like that he looks pretty unpolished out in RF, that he looks like he could be in better shape, that it looks like he could benefit from seeing a few thousand more fungoes. He sees Sano come to camp weighing more, not less, than last year. He sees a whole bunch of players voluntarily working out early every day. Most of these players, Arcia for example, aren't dealing with the extra challenge of learning the nuances of a new position. He sees Sano come and go. He hears from the field staff that they'd like, and probably expect, more effort and time from Sano.

 

So, according to some, Reusse is a hack, the article is garbage, and he's being unfair and petty.  I wonder if a lot of this isn't just backlash from people who are as disdainful of Reusse as Reusse is towards us, who he seems to think of as a bunch of hyper-judgmental know-it-alls.

 

I don't have to like Reusse to accept his observations at face value and accept his conclusions as somewhat meritorious.

 

I don't think Reusse was seriously questioning what Sano did with his time away. It was about whether Sano was expected to be at camp putting in the work.

 

He's unpolished in RF likely because he has never played there. 

 

If you and Reusse are so bothered by voluntary workouts, any ideas why there hasn't been a column on any of the other 20 some odd players who weren't in Fort Meyers weeks before the mandatory reporting date.  Maybe even a guy that wasn't the best player on the team from the moment he joined it?  Maybe a closer that has broken down year after year? Maybe a 2B that collapsed 2 years in a row? Maybe a 1B who has struggled for years now?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I actually like Reusse, and I don't really mind most of the content of this column, even if I disagree with it.  But that specific accusation felt out of line, given its timing and weak evidence.

Reusse has some good things to say. But this column was just flimsy, at best.

 

I'm glad he issued a clarification/apology.

[TRex]

 

Reusse has some good things to say. But this column was just flimsy, at best.

I'm glad he issued a clarification/apology.

... I just saw Reusse's explanation (apology), and it certainly does look like he was solely talking about conditioning and I read too much into the initial article.

 

Independent of the article, however, I am still concerned about whether Sano wants the corner locker. He certainly has the skills and personality to take it. I realize I have no right to ask him to aspire to it, but I also have no right to want him to... strike out less, lay off the low-and-away slider, etc. etc..

[TRex]

 

That can all be written without the specific accusation of promise-breaking.  Have you read the posts here?  That Sano breaks his word, etc.?  Completely unnecessary to write the article you claim he wanted to write.

 

Imagine if Kent Hrbek had been moved to the outfield over the winter of 1982-1983, somehow I doubt Reusse would have augmented this article with a flimsy accusation about missing a few optional offseason workouts... especially if Hrbek had, like Sano, fully accepted the move, already put in the work to reach MLB as a third baseman, while also putting in the work to successfully recover from elbow surgery.  And been willing to play winter ball throughout.

It is just a small point, but I think the comparison was made with Harmon Killebrew instead of Kent Hrbek because Reusse hopes for Sano to be Killebrew, and not Hrbek.

 

Maybe 40 years ago, the same article could have been written by Sid lamenting whether the carousing Reusse would ever be as good as Oscar Madison.

 

Now I have gone to far with my interpretations and will retire.

[DaveW]

I'm glad he issued a clarification/apology.

He still took some bizarre jabs even in his apology, I guess he couldn't resist:

 

.....whether it was at right field, third base, first base or even at his best position, designated hitter......

 

......At the moment, Sano would be a pitcher’s worst friend at third base and there’s no evidence that he would be capable at first base.........

 

Unreal.

 

Frankly, I want him to apologize for implying that Sano is broke because he isn't smart enough to manage his money. I asked him about it on twitter (the first time I have ever used twitter in my life) and was immediately "blocked"

[alarp33]

 

I asked him about it on twitter (the first time I have ever used twitter in my life) and was immediately "blocked"

 

He's SUPER sensitive on Twitter.  I was blocked by him 2 years ago; I think it was late April 2014, he was gushing about Colabello, who at the time was having a good April.  

 

I made an innocent response to one of his tweets, about how Colabello likely wouldn't even be starting by mid to late May, I think Pinto and Arcia were on the DL at the time... He mocked me endlessly, like his usual response is to people who disagree with him "yeah right, sit down 25 rbi's", etc.

 

I replied when Colabello was sent down to AAA later in the season asking what the current RBI total was... blocked.  

 

It's humorous that these big bad columnists that love to mock, ridicule, troll, have the thinnest skin of all. 

[bird]

 

He's unpolished in RF likely because he has never played there. 

 

If you and Reusse are so bothered by voluntary workouts, any ideas why there hasn't been a column on any of the other 20 some odd players who weren't in Fort Meyers weeks before the mandatory reporting date.  Maybe even a guy that wasn't the best player on the team from the moment he joined it?  Maybe a closer that has broken down year after year? Maybe a 2B that collapsed 2 years in a row? Maybe a 1B who has struggled for years now?

 

I'm not the one bothered by any of this.

 

Lots of stuff has been written about all three of these other guys, and none of these guys are changing positions under great scrutiny and with incredible angst being expressed by fans. There have been some questions raised about how much effort Mauer and Perkins have put in to stay in shape. It was recently reported that Dozier hired a nutritionist and changed some things this winter, but not before questions were raised about whether he was wearing down during the season. It was reported that Perkins looks to be in better shape, which had been a frequent criticism of him. Mauer's vision issue has been widely discussed. Arcia's dedication this off-season and his fitness have gotten plenty of print, including from Reusse. Had Sano come to camp 20 pounds leaner and was out early taking fungoes in RF, perhaps that would have been Reusse's observation. But that's not the set of facts we're dealing with

 

The question I have is why are so many of you so bothered by this? Even if Reusee committed a minor transgression of judgment, it seems to me that the reaction here is off he charts.

[bird]

 

He's SUPER sensitive on Twitter.  

 

It's humorous that these big bad columnists that love to mock, ridicule, troll, have the thinnest skin of all. 

 

 

Let's not give ourselves too much credit. Reusse isn't any more sensitive about you and me than he is about a fly landing on his cheeseburger. By blocking us, he's just swatting us away.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It's humorous that these big bad columnists that love to mock, ridicule, troll, have the thinnest skin of all.

 

It certainly seems that way!

[TheLeviathan]

 

Reusse didn't move him to the outfield, he just wrote a column about his drive to be great.  He reported to camp heavier than last year, so the weight he lost was weight he put on over the last year.  Not complaining isn't the same as being committed to being at your best.  His commitment could be the difference from being a Twins HOFer and an baseball HOFer.  I guess I just don't see this as a hit piece.

 

Reusse's making a lot of assumptions on the flimsiest of evidence to come after a 22 year old who has done nothing but exceed expectations.  His evidence of his drive is his weight, that's all he's got.  

 

Miguel Cabrera doesn't look like he's going to be gracing any fitness magazines - hit piece him too?  Hrbek?  Puckett?  And hundreds of other successful players?

 

The guy went out and had an amazing rookie year despite losing a child and recovering from TJ.  What's a better indication of his drive?  That or 10 pounds?

 

Give me a break.

[alarp33]

 

Reusse's making a lot of assumptions on the flimsiest of evidence to come after a 22 year old who has done nothing but exceed expectations.  His evidence of his drive is his weight, that's all he's got.  

 

Miguel Cabrera doesn't look like he's going to be gracing any fitness magazines - hit piece him too?  Hrbek?  Puckett?  And hundreds of other successful players?

 

 

Mike Trout showed up to Spring Training in 2013 weighing 240 pounds.  

 

Don't tell Reusse he went .326/.399/.564, hit 30 home runs, stole 49 bases, and led all of baseball in WAR.  

 

Here's a funny quote from back then by an unnamed AL Scout (Perhaps in hindsight, it was the Twins scout Reusse talked to)

 

"He lost (MVP) to a guy who won the Triple Crown. I think he realizes steals and defense aren't as valued. Trout's got a competitive fire we like, but if he thinks he's got to hit more homers or drive in runs to get it, I'm not sure that helps the Angels. He's never going to win an RBI title leading off and maybe he's eaten his way out of it."

 

 

[KGB]

 

Reusse's making a lot of assumptions on the flimsiest of evidence to come after a 22 year old who has done nothing but exceed expectations.  His evidence of his drive is his weight, that's all he's got.  

 

Miguel Cabrera doesn't look like he's going to be gracing any fitness magazines - hit piece him too?  Hrbek?  Puckett?  And hundreds of other successful players?

 

The guy went out and had an amazing rookie year despite losing a child and recovering from TJ.  What's a better indication of his drive?  That or 10 pounds?

 

Give me a break.

I thought making assumptions on flimsy evidence is what we do on this board  .

 

He has an opinion that you don't have to agree with, which is fine.  I guess we'll have to check back on this at the end of the year.

[jimmer]

Winfield was about 50 pounds lighter than Sano

[TheLeviathan]

 

I thought making assumptions on flimsy evidence is what we do on this board  .

 

He has an opinion that you don't have to agree with, which is fine.  I guess we'll have to check back on this at the end of the year.

 

You're right, it's an opinion I disagree with, but largely because of how ridiculously unfair it is to Sano.  The kid doesn't deserve that article.

[D. Hocking]

I think Ruesse knows a lot of about baseball and obviously has a lot of inside contacts, but I also wonder if he is at the point where he is talking to the same people and people who say what he wants to hear making it not the most objective stuff out there (although as a columnist he does not really need to be completely objective).  I think he is kind of coasting that this point and might be looking for input that go with the narrative he wants to write.  I am not sure he is doing a lot of extra digging at this stage of the game.

 

I used to really think this about Souhan when heard him on the radio.  He would talk about what he had heard, and I would not be surprised if he was not a favorite of a lot of people in the club house, so I would wonder how well rounded were his sources.  Is it largely people who tend to lean to be cynical and sarcastic?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

He's unpolished in RF likely because he has never played there. 

 

If you and Reusse are so bothered by voluntary workouts, any ideas why there hasn't been a column on any of the other 20 some odd players who weren't in Fort Meyers weeks before the mandatory reporting date.  

The difference is that 20 some other odd players were not learning a position that they had NEVER played before AND that were being counted on to be the everyday starter.  Missing time in early spring in Ft Myers, meant that on report date that Sano was already well behind the learning curve.  

[jimmer]

 

The difference is that 20 some other odd players were not learning a position that they had NEVER played before AND that were being counted on to be the everyday starter.  Missing time in early spring in Ft Myers, meant that on report date that Sano was already well behind the learning curve.  

He's trying to learn a completely new position and do it at the major league level.  He could have started learning his new spot early in the offseason and STILL be well behind the learning curve.  An extra two weeks is nothing, and when he messes up out there it will be because the FO decided to take a 260 pound career IF and shove him in the OF, not because he missed a couple more weeks of practice.

[Thrylos]

 

rest assured he probably won't be having a beer with Reusse any time soon.

 

That is correct, unless Ruesse relapses again. 

[Major League Ready]

Let’s just talk about what we do know.

 

1) The Twins pulled Sano from Winter League to concentrate on conditioning.
2) The FO stated publically that the Twins, Sano, and his representation had discussed the  importance of Sano managing his weight and that they all agreed to a “plan”
3) Sano showed up having made no improvement in his conditioning.  In other words, he did not follow the plan.
4) Sano made no effort to show-up early and/or put in additional effort.
5) Sano opted to hang with his friends instead of getting a jump on learning a new position.

I might add #5 – It’s not that hard relatively speaking for a 270 lbs athlete to lose 20 pounds.  That goal would be easily through a managed diet and working out a couple hours.   We don’t know that Sano just did not care enough to put in the work and/or manage his diet but that certainly seems to be the logical conclusion.

[HitInAPinch]

Yesterday, Fox Sports North played [replayed?] a brief documentary on Sano, how/where he grew up, etc.

 

For all those who re-post "Sano opted to hang with his friends" should take into consideration the environment he grew up in.  AND, watch the video.

[DaveW]

 

Yesterday, Fox Sports North played [replayed?] a brief documentary on Sano, how/where he grew up, etc.

 

For all those who re-post "Sano opted to hang with his friends" should take into consideration the environment he grew up in.  AND, watch the video.

Ballplayer Peletoro (spelling?) is another good one to watch.

 

Also to a comment I saw above about (it's easy for a 270 lb athlete to lose 20 pounds) I don't think that's accurate since all bodies all completely different, especially those of a 22 year old who may not be done growing.

 

 

[spinowner]

 

 ...a 22 year old who may not be done growing.

As Torii would say he doesn't have his man-muscles yet. Just think how scary he could be in about 8 years.

[DaveW]

 

As Torii would say he doesn't have his man-muscles yet. Just think how scary he could be in about 8 years.

Yeah, it's crazy to think that Sano is still 5-6 years away from his "peak"